Benchtop end mill grinding center

Abstract

The end mill grinding device of the present invention includes a tool spindle assembly, which enables multi-axis positioning of a rotating cutting tool being sharpened, and a motor tower, which enables multi-axis positioning of a grinding or cutting wheel for sharpening the end mill tool. The present invention combines linear sharpening and radial tool end grinding capability in the same machine element.

1. A rotating cutting tool sharpening device comprising:
 a main base; 
 a tool spindle assembly for holding a cutting tool for processing comprising:
 a spindle base reciprocatable on the main base; 
 a first spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the spindle base; 
 a rotating platform rotatable about a vertical axis on the spindle base; 
 a first carriage for reciprocating the cutting tool in a first direction; 
 a second spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the first carriage; 
 a second carriage for reciprocating the cutting tool in a second direction; 
 a third spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the second carriage; and 
 a tool spindle mounted in the second carriage for receiving and reciprocating the cutting tool along a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool; and 
 
 a motor tower assembly comprising:
 a tower base reciprocatable on the main base; 
 a rotating platform rotatable about a vertical axis on the tower base; 
 a frame extending perpendicular to the main base; and 
 a motor reciprocatable vertically on the frame, and rotatable about a horizontal axis on the frame, wherein the motor is for rotating one of a plurality of interchangeable modifying tools; 
 
 whereby the motor is positionable at an angle to the horizontal and perpendicular to the tool spindle with an end face of one of the modifying tools perpendicular the cutting tool in a first position, and parallel to the tool spindle with the end face of the modifying tool facing the cutting tool in a second position. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second grooves in the main base extending perpendicularly to each other for receiving and guiding the spindle base and the tower base, respectively, during reciprocation. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tool rest pin extending from the rotatable platform, defining the vertical axis around which the rotating platform rotates, providing a fixed reference point for the end mill tool. 
     
     
       4. A rotating cutting tool sharpening device comprising:
 a main base; 
 a tool spindle assembly for holding a cutting tool for processing comprising:
 a spindle base reciprocatable on the main base; 
 a rotating platform rotatable about a vertical axis on the spindle base; 
 a first carriage for reciprocating the cutting tool in a first direction; 
 a second carriage for reciprocating the cutting tool in a second direction; and 
 a tool spindle mounted in the second carriage for receiving and reciprocating the cutting tool along a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool; and 
 
 a motor tower assembly comprising:
 a tower base reciprocatable on the main base; 
 a rotating platform rotatable about a vertical axis on the tower base; 
 a frame extending perpendicular to the main base; and 
 a motor reciprocatable vertically on the frame, and rotatable about a horizontal axis on the frame, wherein the motor is for rotating one of a plurality of interchangeable modifying tools; 
 a lead screw mounted in the frame, and 
 a motor carriage supporting the motor reciprocatable on the lead screw; 
 
 whereby the motor is positionable at an angle to the horizontal and perpendicular to the tool spindle with an end face of one of the modifying tools perpendicular the cutting tool in a first position, and parallel to the tool spindle with the end face of the modifying tool facing the cutting tool in a second position. 
 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the spindle base; 
 a second spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the first carriage; and 
 a third spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the second carriage. 
 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the lead screw is pivotable enabling the motor carriage to pivot relative to the frame to facilitate separation of the modifying tool from the end mill tool. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 6 , further comprising springs extending between the motor carriage and the frame providing a biasing force for biasing the motor carriage into a vertical position. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a lever extending from the lead screw for manually pivoting the lead screw, whereby force exerted on the lever overcomes the biasing force and pivots the lead screw. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vertical axis of the spindle base is remote from the first and second carriages, whereby the tool spindle traces an arc around the vertical axis on the spindle base, and the cutting tool remains pointed at or extending through the axis of rotation. 
     
     
       10. A rotating cutting tool sharpening device comprising:
 a main base; 
 a tool spindle assembly for supporting a cutting tool holder during processing of a rotating cutting tool, the tool spindle assembly enabling reciprocation along first and second perpendicular axes parallel to the main base and rotation about a vertical axis extending perpendicular to the main base; 
 a first spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the tool spindle assembly along the first axis; 
 a second spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the tool spindle assembly along the second axis; and 
 a motor tower assembly including:
 a frame reciprocatable on the main base and rotatable about a vertical axis on the main base, 
 a motor reciprocatable vertically on the frame, and rotatable about a horizontal axis on the frame, wherein the motor is for rotating one of a plurality of interchangeable modifying tools; and 
 a third spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the motor tower assembly; 
 
 
       whereby the motor is positionable at an angle to the horizontal and perpendicular to the tool spindle assembly with an end face of one of the modifying tools perpendicular to the cutting tool in a first position, and parallel to the tool spindle assembly with the end face of the modifying tool facing the cutting tool in a second position. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 10 , further comprising first and second grooves in the main base extending perpendicularly to each other for receiving and guiding the tool spindle assembly and the motor tower assembly, respectively, during reciprocation. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a tool rest pin extending from the tool spindle assembly, defining the vertical axis around which the tool spindle assembly rotates, providing a fixed reference point for the end mill tool. 
     
     
       13. A rotating cutting tool sharpening device comprising:
 a main base; 
 a tool spindle assembly for supporting a cutting tool holder during processing of a rotating cutting tool, the tool spindle assembly enabling reciprocation along first and second perpendicular axes parallel to the main base and rotation about a vertical axis extending perpendicular to the main base; and 
 a motor tower assembly including:
 a frame reciprocatable on the main base and rotatable about a vertical axis on the main base, 
 a motor reciprocatable vertically on the frame, and rotatable about a horizontal axis on the frame, wherein the motor is for rotating one of a plurality of interchangeable modifying tools; 
 a lead screw mounted in the frame, and 
 a motor carriage supporting the motor reciprocatable on the lead screw; 
 
 
       whereby the motor is positionable at an angle to the horizontal and perpendicular to the tool spindle assembly with an end face of one of the modifying tools perpendicular to the cutting tool in a first position, and parallel to the tools spindle assembly with the end face of the modifying tool facing the cutting tool in a second position. 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the motor tower assembly; 
 a second spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the tool spindle assembly along the first axis; and 
 a third spindle, rotation of which reciprocates the tool spindle assembly along the second axis. 
 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the lead screw is pivotable enabling the motor carriage to pivot relative to the frame to facilitate separation of the modifying tool from the end mill tool. 
     
     
       16. The device according to  claim 15 , further comprising springs extending between the motor carriage and the frame providing a biasing force for biasing the motor carriage into a vertical position. 
     
     
       17. The device according to  claim 16 , further comprising a lever extending from the lead screw for manually pivoting the lead screw, whereby force exerted on the lever overcomes the biasing force and pivots the lead screw. 
     
     
       18. The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the tool spindle assembly includes a tool spindle for receiving and reciprocating the cutting tool, a carriage assembly for reciprocating the tool spindle assembly along first and second perpendicular axes, and a rotating platform rotatable about the vertical axis of the tool spindle assembly; and
 wherein the vertical axis of the tool spindle assembly is remote from the carriage assembly, whereby the tool spindle traces an arc around the vertical axis of the tool spindle assembly, and the cutting tool remains pointed at or extending through the vertical axis of the tool spindle assembly. 
 
     
     
       19. A rotating cutting tool sharpening device comprising:
 a main base; 
 a tool spindle assembly for supporting a cutting tool holder during processing of a rotating cutting tool, the tool spindle assembly enabling reciprocation along first and second perpendicular axes parallel to the main base and rotation about a vertical axis extending perpendicular to the main base: 
 a motor tower assembly including:
 a frame reciprocatable on the main base and rotatable about a vertical axis on the main base, 
 a motor reciprocatable vertically on the frame, and rotatable about a horizontal axis on the frame, wherein the motor is for rotating one of a plurality of interchangeable modifying tools; and 
 a lever extending from the frame for temporarily raising the motor relative to the base by a fraction of an inch for disengaging the modifying tool from the cutting tool, and enabling the motor to be repositioned in the substantially the same position when the lever is released; 
 
 
       whereby the motor is positionable at an angle to the horizontal and perpendicular to the tool spindle assembly with an end face of one of the modifying tools perpendicular to the cutting tool in a first position, and parallel to the tool spindle assembly with the end face of the modifying tool facing the cutting tool in a second position.